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DIRECT PAYMENTS

What Are Direct Payments?

The Community Care, (Direct Payments) Act gave County Councils (Social Services) the power to offer certain service users money instead of services to enable them to directly purchase the services they need. This represented a major step forward in giving service users more control, choice and flexibility in the management of their needs. Direct Payments may not be suitable for everyone and nobody can be made to use this system. Nevertheless they do represent significant possibilities to enable some service users greater choice, control and flexibility in the management of the services they need.

Eligibility

Eligibility and priority policies are established by the County Council but this is within the framework of Government guidance. Direct payments are open to people with a physical/sensory disability, learning difficulty, HIV/Aids or an enduring mental health problem and who have been assessed as needing community care services (the assessment is carried out by Social Services). Everyone to whom Direct Payments are made has, by law, to be considered "willing and able" to manage them. This does not mean that people have to be physically able to administer Direct Payments. It does mean, however, that they must be able to direct both the services they receive and the administration of them. People who receive a Direct Payment are accountable for the way the money is spent.

ILA Ltd support clients and offer advice in the following areas with regard to Direct Payments:

• Working in partnership with Social Services on the assessment of need, at the request of the client.
• Assisting, if necessary, with advertising and recruitment of staff and/or liaison with care agencies.
• Producing Job Descriptions and Contracts of Employment. Payment of Wages, Tax and National Insurance Contributions.
• Employers Liability Insurance.

ILA Ltd will provide people interested in Direct Payments with a copy of the Government's National Guide and any other appropriate information/literature.

Referrals to ILA Ltd are accepted from any professional or individual providing this is with the knowledge and approval of the person interested in the Direct Payment.

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